Rodriguez then announced that redshirt freshman Anu Solomon will take the first snap Friday against the Rebels. It will mark the first time a freshman has started for the Wildcats since Willie Tuitama started the final four games of the 2005 season.

It's the first time since freshmen became eligible in 1972 that the UA will start a freshman in the season-opener.

"I thought he deserved the right to start the first game," Rodriguez said. "I don't know who the next guy is, but I told all four of the guys to be ready to play because all four could play. At the same time, I'm confident Anu will play well.

"He'll be the starter as long as he plays well and we win."

Solomon was in the dark about Rodriguez's decision. After spending the majority of training camp with the first-team, he was hopeful he would be named the starter, but he was waiting to hear it from Rodriguez like all Arizona fans.

Rodriguez had joked earlier this month that he might post the news on social media the night of the opener. Solomon was starting to believe him.

"I was just as clueless as anybody else," Solomon said. "I was like 'maybe he will tweet it two hours before the game.'"

Instead, after not making a formal announcement last season, Rodriguez decided to end the suspense early and make Solomon his guy over Jesse Scroggins, Jerrard Randall and Connor Brewer.

"It didn't sink in yet," Solomon said. "I still have to get better. I still have three good guys wanting the job right now. I have to keep working."

Solomon came to Arizona as a four-star recruit from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. He led his team to four state championships and a 57-3 record over four seasons as the starter.

As a senior in 2012, Solomon threw for 2,849 yards and 35 touchdowns to just five interceptions.

Rodriguez and quarterbacks coach Rod Smith decided to redshirt Solomon last season and learn the intricacies and timing of the UA's offense. He showed some progress in the spring, but both coaches said he made his biggest leap in the summer and entered training camp far improved from last season.

"We were looking for who was the most consistent as far as playing well," Rodriguez said. "It's not an elaborate theory or anything like that. It's just something the coaches, and myself in particular felt he was playing the best out of all four quarterbacks that were getting reps."

Rodriguez didn't rule out giving reps to some or all of the other quarterbacks Friday night.

It could happen if Solomon struggles or if the coach wants to run a specific play or package.

"Each one of them has certain skillsets; they are more similar than they are different, but there are certain plays that guys are either more comfortable with or run better than others," Rodriguez said. "For all four of those guys, we'll have certain plays earmarked or known in our mind that 'this is a play that he runs really well.'"

Solomon may have gained an edge over the other three because of his understanding of the timing of Rodriguez's offense. The quarterback often throws to a spot in the coach's zone-read offense rather than an open receiver. Randall admitted to having trouble with that earlier this month and holding onto the ball too long.

Solomon had less issues with it.

"That's been hard for all of them because it's different," Rodriguez said of the timing of his offense. "What we do is different, even from teams that are traditional shotgun, spread, zone-read type teams. We have a little bit more defined timing than the rest of them.

"That's a process he's gotten a whole lot better at, but we're still working on it."

Solomon will get the chance to start his first college game against his hometown team. Bishop Gorman is less than 25 miles away from UNLV's home stadium and Solomon said he had the Rebels in his final five schools coming out of high school.

Even though he was redshirting last year, Rodriguez let Solomon make the trip and dress in front of his family and friends.

"I know like three or four guys on the team and keep in touch with them here and there," Solomon said. "UNLV was one of my top five schools. It was cool going there last year."

Extra points

• Redshirt junior Casey Skowron was listed as the starting kicker on the depth chart the UA released Monday.

Skowron, the former manager of the women's soccer team, beat out freshman Josh Pollack and Virginia Tech transfer Ethan Keyserling.

"He's been the most consistent," Rodriguez said of Skowron. "I think all of them were a little bit off at the beginning of camp…but Casey, the last week and a half, has kicked it really, really well. He's got a strong leg and he's a tough competitor."

Keyserling could see some duty on kickoffs Friday.

• Rodriguez said the UA is relatively healthy going into the season-opener. Reggie Gilbert (foot), Nate Phillips (foot) and Austin Hill (recovery from ACL) all participated in practice Monday.

The coach is hoping to have all three starters Friday.

Rodriguez said that other quarterbacks could play in the game, but that Solomon, a redshirt freshman, will take the first snap.

The Wildcats open the 2014 regular season against UNLV on Aug. 29 and end it against ASU on Nov. 28. Tyler Killian provides a quick look at each game:

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Friday, Aug. 29 - 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

UNLV

Location: Arizona Stadium

TV: ESPN

Comment: UNLV will be looking for revenge after UA went into Las Vegas last season and romped to a 58-13 victory. The Rebels return six starters on defense and seven on offense, including senior wide receiver Devante Davis, who set a school record with 14 touchdowns in 2013.

Thursday, Sept. 4 - 5 p.m.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

At UTSA

Location: San Antonio, Texas

TV: Fox Sports 1

Comment: Another familiar non-conference foe for UA, which took a 38-13 home win over UTSA last year. This time UA must travel to San Antonio, where the Roadrunners were just 3-3 a season ago. Larry Coker, who led Miami to the 2001 BCS national championship, is in his fourth season as coach at UTSA, which is in its first season of bowl eligibility as a full-fledged member of the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Saturday, Sept. 13 - 8 p.m.

Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

Nevada

Location: Arizona Stadium

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Comment: Nevada is being picked as a potential surprise team out of the Mountain West Conference, a year after going 4-8. Dual-threat quarterback Cody Fajardo has compiled almost 10,000 career yards entering his senior season and has a strong offensive line in front of him.

Saturday, Sept. 20

USA TODAY Sports

Cal

Location: Arizona Stadium

Time and TV: TBD

Comment: UA eases into its conference slate with a home matchup against the Bears, who went 1-11 in 2013. Cal won't be that bad this year, with coach Sonny Dykes in his second season and quarterback Jared Goff improved after a shaky freshman campaign, but the Wildcats should be able to pick up a victory to open Pac-12 play.

Thursday, Oct. 2 - 7:30 p.m.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

At Oregon

Location: Eugene, Ore.

TV: ESPN

Comment: One of the bigger surprises of last year's college-football season came when UA stunned Oregon 42-16 on Nov. 23. It's a good bet the Ducks haven't forgotten that game. They will miss the explosive De'Anthony Thomas but still have quarterback Marcus Mariota, a Heisman Trophy candidate, and always play well in Eugene.

Saturday, Oct. 11

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

USC

Location: Arizona Stadium

Time and TV: TBD

Comment: Former Washington coach Steve Sarkisian is now in charge at USC and will look to improve upon the Trojans' 61st-ranked offense from last season. Junior quarterback Cody Kessler will help with that, though his offensive line is relatively untested. USC was 10-4 in 2013, including a 38-31 win over UA.

Saturday, Oct. 25

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

At Washington State

Location: Pullman, Wash.

Time and TV: TBD

Comment: This was UA's most disappointing loss of last season, with the Wildcats falling 24-17 to the Cougars at home. Washington State has a talented crop of wide receivers and could put plenty of points on the board, but its weakness will be its defense - no surprise for a Mike Leach-coached team.

Saturday, Nov. 1

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

At UCLA

Location: Pasadena, Calif.

Time and TV: TBD

Comment: The Bruins have their eyes on big things in 2014 and represent a significant obstacle to UA in the Pac-12 South. Former Chandler star Brett Hundley could challenge Mariota for the title of best quarterback in the conference. And playing in Pasadena is never easy.

Saturday, Nov. 8

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado

Location: Arizona Stadium

Time and TV: TBD

Comment: The Wildcats return home after two games on the road and get a much-needed respite in the form of the Buffaloes, who went 4-8 last season and shouldn't be much better this year. Colorado does return 16 starters and the most lettermen of any team in the Pac-12, but it has work to do before it can compete in the conference.

Saturday, Nov. 15

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Washington

Location: Arizona Stadium

Time and TV: TBD

Comment: It will be interesting to see how much of a Boise State footprint new coach Chris Petersen puts on the Huskies. After losing quarterback Keith Price and running back Bishop Sankey, the offense probably won't be the fine-tuned machine he'd like it to be, at least initially, but by the time Washington plays UA, Petersen should have time to sort it out.

Saturday, Nov. 22

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

At Utah

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Time and TV: TBD

Comment: The Utes have struggled to keep up since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, but they went 5-7 last season and should be improved this year. UA can't overlook this matchup as it prepares to take on Arizona State the following week.

Friday, Nov. 28 - 1:30 p.m.

Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

ASU

Location: Arizona Stadium

TV: Channel 10 (FOX)

Comment: ASU has won both meetings since Todd Graham and Rich Rodriguez took over at their respective schools, so the Wildcats will be eager to stop that trend and get a Territorial Cup victory for their coach. The records to this point won't matter - this game is always a toss-up.